Page one of today’s edition is historic.
For the first time, we publish an article with the names of rape survivors.
The two women, Cheri Belander and Lela Hulahan, asked to tell their story, and asked that their names be used. They describe themselves as survivors, and also asked that we publish their photo.

Rather than raising eyebrows, the community should tip its hats.

Belander and Hulahan deserve the community’s respect and gratitude for taking this step. It was a brave thing to do. At the same time it should be made clear that survivors who do not tell their stories publicly are no less brave.

It is standard practice in responsible journalism to not publish victims’ identities, particularly regarding sexual assault. Another notable exception to this tradition is the series of recent articles in The Oregonian newspaper, in which six victims of a convicted rapist individually came forward and granted permission to use their names and photos. Those women felt, as Hulahan and Belander rightly do, that such openness will in the long run serve victims and society as a whole.

Meanwhile, no one can question the need for privacy and anonymity for others who survive such terrible crimes. Each individual must be allowed to respond in his or her own way.

In the case of the two women profiled on page 1, however, it is true that they have taken a courageous step along what has been a long, rocky, uphill road.

We hope that road someday leads to society’s deeper understanding of rape and sexual assault as crimes of violence that cause physical and emotional harm to victims and their families. Belander has experienced the unfortunate fact that for some women who report rape and seek prosecution, forms of abuse all too often continue in the investigation and legal proceedings with the case.

Another tip of the hat should go to the law enforcement officers and victims’ assistance workers. They demonstrated, in responding to Belander’s and Hulahan’s cases, that the officials in the Hood River system have a positive understanding of the feelings for those emotional as well as psychological impacts.

Lastly, Hulahan and Belander choose to apply the word “survivors” to themselves, and that is a nuance that we should all stop and consider: talking about the crime and their experience is a way for some people to endure and reclaim a semblance of internal peace.

Yet “victim” might well remain the descriptor of choice for others, for it stands as a stark word for a stark reality: some people choose to do harm to others, and the recipients of this violence are changed forever.